Government of the United Kingdom February 4, 2015

What is the difference between The United Kingdom, Great Britain and England? The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland includes the four territories: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Great Britain includes the major island of and has three regions: England, Wales, and Scotland. England is a region of Great Britain and The UK. It has the largest population with five sixths of the entire state. The Official name of the state is “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”

Common Government Terms The Crown – all encompassing term including the all the powers of government (king and queen, Parliament, cabinet, and civil servants) Westminister – district of London where many government buildings are located # 10 Downing St. – prime minister’s residence and address Whitehall – street where many executive offices are located along with the House of Commons and House of Lords

Westminister Hall

The UK a Democratic Regime (remember there are two main democratic regimes parliamentary and presidential) Parliamentary System Legislative and Executive Branch are not separate Head of state (monarch) and Head of Government (Prime Minister) are held by two separate individuals Write two more differences between this democratic regimes. Which do you prefer? Why? Presidential System Legislative and Executive are separate branches of government Head of State and Head of Government are positions of one person the President PS: There is a hybrid system called the Semi-Presidential System. These governments Have a combination of both systems. Examples of Semi Presidential Systems exist in France and Russia.

Leadership of the UK of Great Britain and Northern Irealnd The Monarch Head state “Psychological cement to hold a country together” No real political power “Reigns but does not rule” The Prime Minister (PM) Picks the Cabinet Well disciplined Party Whip Head of Government Winning elections Campaigning through media Patronage Making and balancing policies

Head of Government: David Cameron Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II Head of Government: David Cameron http://hcaa.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/queenelizabethii.jpg http://www.gastronomydomine.com/uploaded_images/gordon_brown_fat-749381.jpg

Branches of Government in the UK Executive = Prime Minister and Cabinet Legislative = House of Commons and House of Lords Judicial = Courts

Executive Branch Prime Minister Head of Government Head of the majority party in HOC Usually get their way and are thought to be powerful because of strong party loyalty 2011 Fixed-term Parliaments Act, elections had to be held every five years but the Prime Minister had discretion to call one at any time before that deadline. Must maintain the support of party Take questions once weekly that are televised Direct activity of the cabinet Diplomats and world leaders Cabinet Has about twenty members Can be from HOC or HOL, though most are from HOC Appointed by the Prime Minister Responsible for individual government departments Provide answers to Parliament during the question time. Collective Responsibility – idea that cabinet must appear unified and take responsibility for policy If Cabinet official can not support a decision of government they must resign and return to legislature (3 of Blair’s ministers resigned over the war in Iraq)

Why Do PMs Not turn into Dictators? Elections are every five years (try to keep blocks of support among population) Has to keep the support of the party in order for party to stay in power in Parliament

British Cabinet Lord Chancellor (member of House of Lords) Foreign Secretary – conducts foreign policy Home Secretary – oversees the Judiciary Chancellor of Exchequer (treasury) – financial policy and head of the central bank Environment Education Transport Social Security Agriculture Employment Northern Ireland Welsh Scottish National Heritage

What is the Parliament? It is not George Clinton’s Band (P-Funk).

The UK legislates on 3 person babies http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/03/health/uk-ivf-3-person-babies/index.html

What is the Parliament? It is not George Clinton’s Band (P-Funk). It is the legislative branch of the English government that selects the Prime Minister (PM) and the Cabinet. Both the PM and Cabinet officials are also members of Parliament (MPs) It is a bicameral legislature which consists of the House of Commons and House of Lords

MOVIE http://www.richard-seaman.com/Wallpaper/Travel/Europe/DigitalHousesOfParliament.jpg

How are MPs chosen? In the House of Commons there is an election every five years for Parliament or it can be dissolved before. MPs represent a single district called a constituency MPs are elected in first past the post system – or single member plurality districts. MPs win on plurality, who has the most votes not necessarily the majority. (Remember the term first past the post ) This supports a strong two-party political system in the UK (Labour and Conservative) like in the US. (Remember Duverger’s Law pg. 85 textbook) MPs are not required to live in the district they represent and many make their homes in London MPs in the House of Lords are inherited positions (heredity peers like dukes, earls, barons, ect.) these positions were eliminated in 1999 and life peers who are appointed by the Crown once recommended by PM generally outstanding citizens, law lords, and top officials from The Church of England. MPs in the HOL are shielded from public scrutiny in terms of legislation. Similar to U.S. Supreme Court Justices.

Parliament (House of Commons) House of Lords

Functions of House of Commons MPs (Members of Parliament) are expected to : Support their party Assess the political reputations of other MPs to be cabinet ministers Share the problems they see with policy of ministers outside of chambers (must look like you are a party loyalist at all times) Talk about legislation, but do not write legislation. (Legislation is written by cabinet ministers) Vote on legislation proposed by the government Have oversight in seeing how policy is carried out Publicize government policy to the general public Can check the PM with a vote-of-no-confidence MPs vote with their party 90% of the time

Inside the House of Commons http://www.c-span.org/video/?323854-1/british-prime-ministers-questions Red = Majority Party Blue = Minor Party Other Colors = Small Minor Parties

Work in the Parliament

Parliament (House of Lords)

Functions of House of Lords Made up of inherited seats and Church of England bishops and law lords Limited power Amend legislation from Commons. But the MPs in the House of Commons can easily delete amendments with simple majority Delay legislation (financial bills 30 days and other 2 years) Debate topics that are to controversial for elected MPs

Inside the House of Lords http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/03/18/weekinreview/18cowell.600.jpg

Judicial Branch No judicial review Parliament is always supreme and any measure created by legislature is constitutional Judges on Court are selected by the Lord Chancellor and serve until retirement Civil and criminal courts and court of appeals In 2009 the Supreme Court was created in the UK to be the last court of appeals.